Washington D.C./Paris,8th June, 2026 — Forty‑four countries in the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) have pledged to increase domestic education spending by 32 percent by 2030, mobilizing more than $238 billion in national resources. The commitments mark a decisive shift toward self‑sustained education systems, reducing reliance on international aid at a time when global funding is tightening.

The pledges come in the lead‑up to a high‑level event this fall, co‑hosted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, where governments and partners will rally support for GPE’s Multiply Possibility campaign. The initiative seeks to raise $5 billion for GPE and unlock an additional $10 billion in innovative financing.

Sierra Leone is at the forefront of this drive. President Julius Maada Bio, serving as a GPE Champion for Sustainable Domestic Financing for Education, has committed to raising education’s share of the national budget from 21 to 22 percent by 2030, while increasing allocations from 2.48 to 3.3 percent of GDP. This will more than double nominal resources for the sector over five years, underscoring Sierra Leone’s determination to invest in its future.

“As global aid continues to tighten, we must rise to the challenge,” President Bio said. “Education is a long‑term investment in growth, stability and opportunity. When we invest in our children, we equip them with the skills to thrive at home, drive their nation’s development and reduce the pressures that push them toward dangerous journeys in search of opportunity elsewhere.”

GPE leaders emphasized that domestic financing is now the cornerstone of credible education reform. “Our model helps countries protect and grow their own education budgets, even in tough times, so progress is financed and sustained from within,” said Laura Frigenti, CEO of GPE. “That’s how we move from short‑term support to long‑term self‑sufficiency.”

By anchoring education in national budgets, GPE partner countries are signaling that classrooms are not just a social priority